Your Legacy is Now
Life is not a search for meaning from others, it’s about the creation of meaning for yourself.
For over 30 years Alan Weiss has consulted, coached, and advised everyone from Fortune 500 executives, state governors, non-profit directors, and entrepreneurs to athletes, entertainers, and beauty pageant contestants. That’s quite an assortment of people, and they run into the thousands. Most of them have had what we euphemistically call “means,” and some of them have had a lot more than that. Others have been aspiring and with more ends in sight than means on hand.
Alan Weiss states:
I’ve dealt with esteem (low), narcissism (high), family problems, leadership dysfunctions, insecurities, addictions, and ethical quandaries. And I’ve talked about them through the coronavirus crisis. But don’t get the wrong idea. About 95% of these people have been well-meaning, honest (to the best of their knowledge), and interested in becoming a better person and better professional. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking to me.
I found the equivalent of the “runner’s wall” in their journeys, where they must break through the pain and the obstacles and then can keep going with renewed energy and spirit. But runners know how far they must go after the breakthrough, be it another half lap or another five miles. There is a finish line.
I’ve found that people in all positions, even after the “breakthrough,” don’t know where they are in the race, let alone where the finish line is.
They do not know what meaning is for them. They may have money in the bank, good relationships, the admiration of others, and the love of their dogs. But they have no metrics for “What now?” They believe that at the end of life there is a tallying, some metaphysical accountant who totals up their contributions, deducts their bad acts, and creates the (hopefully positive) difference.
That difference, they believe, is their “legacy.”
But the thought that legacy arrives at the end of life is as ridiculous as someone who decides to sell a business and tries to increase its valuation the day prior. Legacy is now. Legacy is daily. Every day we create the next page in our lives, but the question becomes who is writing it and what’s being written. Is someone else creating our legacy? Or are we, ourselves, simply writing the same page repeatedly?
Or do we leave it blank?
Our organic, living legacy is marred and squeezed by huge normative pressures. There is a “threshold” point, at which one’s beliefs and values are overridden by immense peer pressure. Our metrics are forced to change.
In an age of social media, biased press, and bullying, we’ve come to a point where our legacy, ironically, is almost out of our hands.
Yet our “meaning”—our creation of meaning and not a search for some illusive alchemy—creates worth and impact for us and all those with whom we interact.
Belal Khan
Thanks for the advice Alan
David S.
Alan, I appreciate the comment on physical planners. There are several great things about them – here’s one; being able to look over your month at a glance while waiting on an appointment gives one a big picture of where they’ve been and where they’re going. Try doing this with a Palm Pilot…If that’s not enough, try checking 10 dates over the next 4 months in 60 seconds. Not easily done on the Blackberry.
Alan Weiss
Couldn’t agree more.
Ryan Hartman
Not prioritizing everything…giving up electronic to do lists in favor of good ole pen and paper (at-a glance planning)… this has been gold for me since I read it in one of your books a few months ago.
Much, much thanks and right on!
Lisa Nirell
My to do lists used to be 10-15 items deep. Now they are 2-4 items a day. I feel MUCH more satisfied by the end of the day!
Frank DeJoy
Great Podcast Alan. Thanks for publishing. Very insightful and practical tips for personal growth and success.
Frank
Alan Weiss
Thanks, all, for listening.
Alan Weiss
No se meta con el toro.
Jim Powell
Brilliant as usual. I love the advice about not taking advice from those who don’t do or haven’t done themsleves.
It reminds me of a saying I once heard, I don’t know where it comes from (probably Spain) or if it is word perfect either Alan.
“talking about bullfighting is not the same as being in the ring”
Jim Powell
gracias
Brett Wignall
Thanks Alan for another thought anchor, can I please add “don’t complicate, instead just keep it simple”.
Rabbi Ginzberg
Got to make the music yourself!
Great stuff Alan, as always.